Land preparation tool
A land preparation tool includes a tool body having a cutting surface, mounting surfaces disposed on the tool body opposite the cutting surface, and opposing side surfaces each extending between the cutting surface and a different one of the mounting surfaces. One mounting surface angles inwardly from a distal edge of a side surface toward the tool body. Another mounting surface angles inwardly from a distal edge of the other side surface toward the tool body. An opening is disposed on the tool body opposite the cutting surface and between the mounting surfaces.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/268,648, filed Feb. 6, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/920,227, filed Mar. 13, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,201,130, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/172,655, filed Jun. 3, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,943,037, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/560,329, filed Apr. 5, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. D791,195, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/466,991, filed Sep. 13, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. D757,124, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/918,677, filed Nov. 30, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,540,033, which is a PCT National Phase Entry of PCT/US2009/034872, filed Feb. 23, 2009, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/030,744, filed Feb. 22, 2008, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to attachment systems and methods for land preparation tools, such as cutting, grinding, mulching, and/or shredding tools, more particularly tool interfaces for attachments to powered vehicles.
Land preparation and clearing machines and apparatus such as forestry machines and apparatus are utilized for clearing land, creating paths, and otherwise removing debris, brush, trees, vegetation, soil, concrete, asphalt, rock, and/or other materials, making the land suitable for further development or use. To carry out these tasks, such machines can be fitted with land preparation attachments or apparatus operable to mulch, cut, shred, and/or grind vegetation, brush, trees, stumps, soil, concrete, asphalt, rock, and other materials.
In particular, the apparatus may be integrally or detachably attached to a tractor, skid steer, or other vehicle to facilitate articulation and movement of the mowing apparatus with respect to the vegetation. Often, the vehicle is a multi-purpose vehicle having the capability to be fitted with any of a variety of attachments suitable for the task at hand. For example, the vehicle can include a common connection for connecting to and driving the apparatus such as brush cutters, rotary mowers, shredders, grinders, and crushers. Such land preparation and clearing apparatus can be hydraulically driven via hydraulic power from the vehicle. One illustrative type of land preparation and clearing apparatus is known as a “flail mower” which utilizes a rotatable axle with either swinging or fixed position cutting tools (often known as “flails”).
SUMMARYAccording to one embodiment, an exemplary land preparation apparatus comprising a rotatable drum and a plurality of tool assemblies disposed on the rotatable drum is provided. Each tool assembly comprises a tool holder comprising a mounting surface defining a non-planar profile, and a land preparation tool connected to the tool holder and comprising a mounting surface in flush contact with the tool holder mounting surface. The mounting surface of the land preparation tool defines a non-planar profile which is the inverse of the non-planar profile of the tool holder mounting surface.
According to another embodiment, another exemplary land preparation apparatus comprising a rotatable drum and a plurality of tool assemblies disposed on the rotatable drum is provided. Each tool assembly comprises a tool holder comprising a mounting surface defining a non-planar profile, a land preparation tool comprising a mounting surface, and an intermediate connector disposed between and connecting the tool holder and the land preparation tool. The intermediate connector comprises a tool holder interface in flush contact with the mounting surface of the tool holder. The tool holder interface defines a non-planar profile inverse to the non-planar profile of the tool holder mounting surface.
According to further embodiments, the non-planar profile is convex, concave, V-shaped, or combinations thereof.
In even further embodiments, the above described land preparation tool further comprises a cutting surface disposed on a surface opposite the mounting surface of the land preparation tool, wherein the cutting surface defines an upper region and a lower region. The lower region defines a non-planar profile extending outwardly from a plane defined by the upper region. The land preparation tool also comprises a pair of side surfaces extending between the mounting surface and the cutting surface, wherein each side surface comprises an upper region and a lower region. The lower region of the cutting surface extends widthwise a horizontal distance beyond the width of the tool holder mounting surface, and wherein the lower region of the side surfaces extend widthwise a horizontal distance beyond the width of the tool holder mounting surface.
These and additional objects and advantages provided by the embodiments of the present invention will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings.
The following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the drawings enclosed herewith:
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative in nature and not intended to be limiting of the invention defined by the claims. Moreover, individual features of the drawings and the invention will be more fully apparent and understood in view of the detailed description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe present invention is generally directed to land preparation and clearing machines (“Land Preparation Machine”) that are designed to cut, grind, mulch, shred, clear, mill, and/or mix trees, brush, ground cover, vegetation, debris, asphalt, concrete, and/or soil. The Land Preparation Machines and their corresponding implements may comprise a variety of vehicles and implements, including but not limited to skid steer vehicles, forestry machines and vehicles, PTO tractors, farm tractors and/or any other known vehicles and their corresponding implements compatible with land preparation and clearing. Such Land Preparation Machines may prepare the surface and subsurface of the earth. As used herein, the phrases “land preparation and clearing” and ““land preparation” will mean any land preparation and clearing operations, including but not limited to forestry operations such as cutting, grinding, mulching, shredding, clearing, milling, and/or mixing trees, brush, ground cover, vegetation, debris, soil, rock, asphalt, concrete, and/or soil. As used herein, “feed material” describes trees, brush, ground cover, vegetation, debris, soil, rock, asphalt, concrete, and/or soil produced from such land preparation and clearing operations, including but not limited to forestry operations such as clearing land, cutting and/or mulching trees, and/or preparing land surfaces (e.g., creating paths).
Referring to
While the land preparation apparatus 14 is shown in this example connected to and powered by vehicle 12 which is a skid steer vehicle, other suitable all-terrain vehicles with capability for powering and utilizing a hydraulic motor attachment or tool (e.g., such as land preparation apparatus 14) could be provided, such as other forestry vehicles, mini-track loaders, excavators, backhoes, PTO tractors, farm tractors, and/or any other known vehicles and their corresponding implements compatible with land preparation and clearing. Further examples of suitable skid steer vehicles are shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,168,757 and 4,209,071, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
It is understood that land preparation apparatus 14 may also be fixedly attached to the vehicle 12 and/or be a stand-alone machine such as a walk behind land preparation apparatus. Also, it is understood that other hydraulically-operated rotary mowing or cutting attachments may be utilized with principles of the present invention, integral with or detachable from vehicle 12, and/or separately from or in combination with the land preparation apparatus 14. Other configurations are also possible, such as where the fluid pump and tank are located at other locations. Connection, powering, and movement of the land preparation apparatus 14 can be accomplished with various configurations, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,148,366, and 5,813,792, for example, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Referring to
Optionally, rotatable tool 50 may also comprise an axle 56 extending longitudinally from either one or both ends of the tool drum 52. For movement of the rotatable tool 50, a hydraulic motor 40, such as a hydraulic piston motor, provides rotation of a rotor (e.g., drive shaft 42) which drives the rotatable tool drum 52, which thereby causes rapid rotation of the tool assemblies 60, such as at speeds of between about 100 to about 3000 rpm. The drive shaft 42 may drive a belt (not shown), which engages and drives the axle 56 to turn tool drum 52. Alternatively, the drive shaft 42 may be directly connected to the drum 52 or axle 56.
In one particular embodiment, the hydraulic lift arms 32 raise and lower the land preparation apparatus 14 via controls 22 to allow the tool assembly 60 (e.g., the teeth or cutters of the tool assembly 60) to come into contact with brush, trees, vegetation, or other objects to be cut or shredded or cleared. Controls 22 may also control the supply of fluid to the hydraulic motor 40 to start and stop the rotation of the tool drum 52 and tool assemblies 60. The land preparation attachment 14 may include any number of suitable components, cutters, grinders, mixers, and/or tools for providing a cutting, grinding, mulching, shredding, clearing, milling, and/or mixing function. In addition, the land preparation apparatus may comprise safety mechanisms such as a guard assembly 46 as shown in
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the hydraulic motor 40 is controlled by a hydraulic brake 16 which automatically slows the motor 40 when the flow of hydraulic fluid to the motor via the hydraulic supply line is discontinued. For additional detail on land preparation machinery (e.g., forestry machinery) or hydraulic components associated with land preparation machinery (e.g., forestry machinery), U.S. Publication No. 2006/0032222 has been incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
Referring to the embodiments of
Referring to the embodiment of
Referring to
In addition to the interference fit between inverse surfaces 64 and 68, other coupling arrangements are further contemplated. Referring again to
In yet another embodiment as shown in
Additionally, although the figures generally depict channels 63 and 163 with circular tube shapes, other channel shapes and configurations are contemplated herein. Moreover, the channel 63 may be a threaded channel (not shown) disposed inside hollow pegs 65; however, it is contemplated to use non-hollow pegs without channels extending therethrough.
To couple (e.g., matingly couple) with the coupling mechanism of the tool holder 62, the land preparation tool 66 may comprise a coupling mechanism on its mounting surface 68 as shown in
Moreover as shown in
As shown in
Referring again to the embodiment of
As stated above, the respective channels of the land preparation tool 66 and the tool holder 62 may comprise internal threads. These internal threads may be used to engage external threads (not shown) of the securing bolts 90. As shown in
Referring again to
Along with these advantages, the V-shaped tool profile allows for lower cost manufacturing. With the traditional mulching application, the mounting surfaces 64 and 68 of the tool holder 62 and the land preparation tool 66, respectively, require flat machined surfaces that must be perpendicular to the bolt axis. In contrast, the V-shaped profile is much more forgiving to surface finish and tolerances. The increase surface area along with the V-shape profile allows for manufacturing variations as well as the performance benefits provided by the larger supporting surface area.
Referring to the embodiments of
While optional, the intermediate connector 76 provides numerous benefits to this land preparation apparatus 14. For example, the intermediate connector 76 protects against tool holder 62 wear, while acting as a structural support for tool positioning and lateral loading. The intermediate connector 76 may also improve fastening between the tool holder 62 and land preparation tool 66. As stated above, the intermediate connector 76 has a unique design and removability that enables it to be manufactured out of materials different from the tool holder 62 or land preparation tool 66. By altering the material properties of the intermediate connector 76 material, component wear can be controlled and an increased level of tolerance may be provided with minimal cost to the system.
Referring again to
Referring again to
To provide additional securing of tool assembly 60 components, additional coupling components may be utilized. Referring to
Moreover, each tool interface 85 may comprise a coupling mechanism operable to matingly connect with a coupling mechanism of the land preparation tool 66. As shown in the embodiment of
As described above, the attachment of the tool holder 62 to the land preparation tool 66 may further include an additional securing mechanism, for example, via bolts 90 as shown in
When assembling the land preparation apparatus 14 as shown in
Alternatively, as shown in the embodiment of
In addition to the improved coupling of the components of the tool assembly 60, other embodiments of the present invention are directed to improvements in the land preparation tool 66, specifically with regard to the cutting surface 67 disposed on a surface opposite the mounting surface 68 of the land preparation tool 66. As shown in
The non-planar profile of the cutting surface yields many advantages to the tool assembly 60. For example, the non-planar profile provides protection to the welds and/or the structural members of the rotor system. The welds, or fastening seats, can be achieved in a variety of mechanical or chemical fastening methods at the base of the tool holder 62. The shape of the cutting surface may protect the fastening joint, thereby providing physical protection by blocking abrasive materials from contacting the joint as well as providing ideal material flow paths to direct the abrasive material away from the joint. This protection in the form of physically blocking and the induction of material flow direction also provide improved wear characteristics of the rotor tube or center support structure and the tool holder along with the fastening joint.
In addition, the non-planar profile also provides processing advantages by directing the material flow around the tool assembly 60 to reduce the horsepower required to move the rotor through the material, and by directing the material towards the cutting tip and away from the rotor drum or center section. This material flow advantage provides the tooling system control to the depth of cut again maximizing the horsepower efficiency by limiting the size of the cut or chip.
It is noted that terms like “specifically,” “preferably,” “commonly,” and “typically” are not utilized herein to limit the scope of the claimed invention or to imply that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the claimed invention. Rather, these terms are merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the present invention. It is also noted that terms like “substantially” and “about” are utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation.
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. More specifically, although some aspects of the present invention are identified herein as preferred or particularly advantageous, it is contemplated that the present invention is not necessarily limited to these preferred aspects of the invention.
All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this written document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to the term in this written document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
Claims
1. A land preparation tool comprising:
- a tool body comprising: a cutting surface comprising a blade; a mounting interface disposed on the tool body opposite the cutting surface; a first side surface extending between the cutting surface and the mounting interface; a second side surface extending between the cutting surface and the mounting interface opposite the first side surface; wherein the mounting interface comprises: a first mounting surface extending inwardly from a distal edge of the first side surface into the tool body, the distal edge of the first side surface extending in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool body, a second mounting surface opposite the first mounting surface, the second mounting surface extending inwardly from a distal edge of the second side surface into the tool body, the distal edge of the second side surface extending in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool body, and a recess disposed between the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface; and a channel extending from the recess at least partially into the tool body.
2. The land preparation tool of claim 1, wherein the first and second mounting surfaces cooperate to define a non-planar profile selected from the group consisting of concave, V-shaped, and combinations thereof.
3. The land preparation tool of claim 2, wherein the non-planar profile comprises a concave non-planar profile.
4. The land preparation tool of claim 3, wherein the concave non-planar profile comprises a concave V-shaped non-planar profile.
5. The land preparation tool of claim 4, wherein the channel is round.
6. The land preparation tool of claim 2, wherein the cutting surface comprises a distal end and the blade comprises a first blade positioned at the distal end, and further comprising a second blade positioned at the distal end.
7. The land preparation tool of claim 2, wherein the blade comprises a first blade, and further comprising a second blade positioned at a distal end of the cutting surface, opposite the first blade.
8. The land preparation tool of claim 1, wherein the channel extends between the recess of the mounting interface to an opening disposed on the cutting surface.
9. A land preparation tool comprising:
- a tool body, the tool body comprising: a cutting surface comprising a blade; a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface each disposed on the tool body opposite the cutting surface; a first side surface extending between the cutting surface and the first mounting surface; a second side surface opposite the first side surface, the second side surface extending between the cutting surface and the second mounting surface; an opening disposed on the tool body opposite the cutting surface and between the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface; a channel extending from the opening at least partially into the tool body; and wherein: the first mounting surface declining inwardly from a distal edge of the first side surface into the tool body, the distal edge of the first side surface extending in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool body, the second mounting surface declining inwardly from a distal edge of the second side surface into the tool body, the distal edge of the second side surface extending in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool body, and the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface define a concave non-planar profile.
10. The land preparation tool of claim 9, wherein the concave non-planar profile comprises a concave V-shaped non-planar profile.
11. The land preparation tool of claim 10, wherein the channel is round.
12. The land preparation tool of claim 11, wherein the channel is threaded.
13. The land preparation tool of claim 11, wherein the opening is round.
14. The land preparation tool of claim 10, wherein the cutting surface comprises a distal end and the blade comprises a first blade positioned at the distal end, and further comprising a second blade positioned at the distal end.
15. The land preparation tool of claim 10, wherein the blade comprises a first blade, and further comprising a second blade positioned at a distal end of the cutting surface, opposite the first blade.
16. The land preparation tool of claim 9, wherein the channel extends between the opening disposed on the tool body between the first and second mounting surfaces to an opening disposed on the cutting surface.
17. A land preparation tool comprising:
- a tool body;
- a cutting surface disposed on the tool body, the cutting surface comprising a blade;
- a mounting surface disposed on the tool body opposite the cutting surface, the mounting surface comprising: first and second side faces that each decline inwardly from respective first and second distal edges of respective first and second side surfaces into the tool body to form a concave non-planar profile, the respective first and second distal edges each extending in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool body and an opening disposed between the first and second side faces; and
- a round channel extending from the opening at least partially into the tool body.
18. The land preparation tool of claim 17, wherein the concave non-planar profile is a V-shaped non-planar profile.
19. The land preparation tool of claim 17, wherein the round channel extends between the opening disposed between the first and second side faces to an opening disposed on the cutting surface.
20. The land preparation tool of claim 17, wherein the round channel is threaded.
21. The land preparation tool of claim 20, wherein the opening is round.
22. The land preparation tool of claim 17, wherein the cutting surface comprises a distal end and the blade comprises a first blade positioned at the distal end, and further comprising a second blade positioned at the distal end.
23. The land preparation tool of claim 17, wherein the blade comprises a first blade, and further comprising a second blade positioned at a distal end of the cutting surface, opposite the first blade.
24. A land preparation tool comprising:
- a tool body, the tool body comprising: a cutting surface comprising a blade; a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface each disposed on the tool body opposite the cutting surface; a first side surface extending between the cutting surface and the first mounting surface; a second side surface opposite the first side surface, the second side surface extending between the cutting surface and the second mounting surface; an opening disposed on the tool body opposite the cutting surface and between the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface; a channel extending from the opening at least partially into the tool body; and wherein: each of the first and second side surfaces comprising a respective distal edge positioned distal to the cutting surface and extending in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool body, the first mounting surface angling inwardly from the distal edge of the first side surface toward the tool body, the second mounting surface angling inwardly from the distal edge of the second side surface toward the tool body, and the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface define a concave non-planar profile.
25. The land preparation tool of claim 24, wherein the concave non-planar profile is a V-shaped non-planar profile.
26. The land preparation tool of claim 24, wherein the channel is round.
27. The land preparation tool of claim 26, wherein the opening is round.
28. The land preparation tool of claim 24, wherein the cutting surface comprises a distal end and the blade comprises a first blade positioned at the distal end, and further comprising a second blade positioned at the distal end.
29. The land preparation tool of claim 24, wherein the blade comprises a first blade, and further comprising a second blade positioned at a distal end of the cutting surface, opposite the first blade.
30. The land preparation tool of claim 24, wherein the channel extends between the opening disposed on the tool body between the first and second mounting surfaces to an opening disposed on the cutting surface.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 20, 2019
Date of Patent: Oct 20, 2020
Patent Publication Number: 20200120876
Assignee: Fecon, LLC (Lebanon, OH)
Inventors: Jeffrey Stanley (Lebanon, OH), Robert Hentz (Hamilton, OH)
Primary Examiner: Arpad Fabian-Kovacs
Application Number: 16/722,748
International Classification: A01G 3/00 (20060101); A01B 33/14 (20060101); A01G 23/093 (20060101); B02C 18/18 (20060101);